AN INSPIRING awareness and fundraising campaign is set to be launched across the South West by Cancer Research UK, as new figures released show that the death rate from cancer in the region has dropped by almost a quarter since the 1990s.

Every year, around 15,400 men and 14,800 women are diagnosed with the disease in the South West.

Research has proved to be the key factor in reducing the number of lives lost to cancer, with improved knowledge about preventing the disease, surgical techniques, precisely targeted radiotherapy and more effective drugs all boosting the outcome for patients.